The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-06
IsadOre's Lesson.

Mamma, said Isadore Stephens,
coming into the back parlor, where.
mamma was sitting in the sunshine,
clinking her needles through some
soft bright wool. II don't understand
Bert at all: I never saw him so .stingy
with his money I know he hasn't
spent cent for candy in more than q
month aud now he's saving wood to
earn more; and yet when I asked him
to 60 shares with me for Aunt Carries
Christmas present, he said, Can't
spare but fifty cents, SIS and went off
whistling. 1 declare, think it's hor-i
rid I counted on at least two dollars
from him toward a camp chair for her.
There's beauty at Allen's-brown
and scarlet, to match her room; but
now I can't get it, just because Bert,s.
got to be such a miser." And the pet
ulant tears came into her eyes. - %
Mother looked very grave. "Has
Bert ever done like this before ?" ~
"No, mamma; and that is what
makes it 80 queer. I don't understand
and can't see -" ~
"Yes, and just because you don't un-
derstand, and can't see, you are ready
to think and say hard things Of the
dearest, best brother in the world'-I
think that is what you called him last
night, when he read over your history
lesson to you because your eyes hurt
you. o my darling, when will. you
learn that the sweetest, best thing in
all the world is trust, and that you can
hardly hurt one who loves you more
than by doubling and disbelieving
when you don't understand what he
does Now. Isa, be sure you do not
say another word to Bert about this.
Try to believe that your brothermeans
all right"
Isa was silenced, but not satisfied.
She was willful little girl, with quite
a way of worrying if things did not
60 just right. She bought q less ex-
pensive chair for Aunt Carrie, think
ing some very ungracious things, and
making one or two remarks about its
cheapness, in her brothers. presence,
in spite of her mothers command,
Christmas morning came and break
fast time came at the Stephens. The;
table cloth was humpy and lumpy
with wonderful packages, and Of
course they were all at them as soon
as the blessing had been asked.
lisa, full of eager excitement uncov-
cred the pile at her plate. There were
the story-books she wanted-she saw
that at a glance; but what was that in
the Russian leather case? She Open
ed it, and there lay the very thing that
she had wanted so long, but never ex-
pected to have-a hand-painted minia-.
ture portrait of Bert; for had not papa
and mamma both said, eve can not
afford it, DEAR" when she asked for 1t
six months before? Such scream of
delight as Isa gave: 20 mamma, how
could you?n she cried. "You know
you said"
"The books are from papa and me,
said her mother. ,... -
. "Then it must bet surely can't"
she turned over the case, and there In
a square, sohool-boy hand, was;
"From Bert to Isa.." "O-h-h !" Then
she stopped short, and began to think,
and it was a very serious little face
which she wore through breakfast
time. When she found her brother
alone, she put her arms around his
neck and kissed him one, two, three.
half O dozen times. 20 Bert, dear, l
am so glad and thankful I! And you
are the dearest boy, and I'm SO dread
full sorry / was cross. Won't you for
give me?"
All right, sis; I knew you'd see
through it on Christmas. But say
now, you won't he hard on q, ,felloW
again when you don't know, will
you?n
Never, never, NEvERw giving him
an extra hug. -..
Later she sought her mothers room.
"Well, darling, do you understand
now ?"
Mamma, I do feel 80 mean and so
sorry and I can't see, yet how he did
it.n
IT will tell you. Last summer,
when you teased for the picture he
came and asked if he might get 1t for
you if he could. I hardly thought 1t
possible, but he seemed 80 bent upon
it that + consented, but told him he
must save and earn the money for 1t
himself. Do you remember wonder
ing why he didn't 60 with that fishing
party In the fall? His share of the
expenses would have been three dol
lars, and he staid at home so that ne
might save that sum for your present.
He sawed wood out Of school-hours,
but it was for you. He has denied
candy himself for ever so long, but IL
was for your sake. Knowing oil this,
T can not tell how it hurt me TO have
YOU distrust him as you did"
Isa,s ewes were full of tears now.
mamma, I never will again, truly"
Mother put her arms around her lit
file girl. ':There is some one else who
loves YOU, and thinks for you every
breath of your life; some one who
gave whole lifetime of suffering for
your sake, who asks you to love him
and trust him and yet am inclined
to think that you treat him good
deal as you did Bert"
"I believe do, mamma" said lsa,
with quive:ing lips:
"It hurts Jesus when we worry and
COMPLAIN over what we don't see and
can't understand, just as 1t hurt Bert
when you distrusted him. we DO
come to see sometimes; but alas If we
have fretted our way through a trou-
BILE instead of trusting through it ="
lsa went to where she could be alone
with Jesus that Christmas day, and
ask him to take her heart and make 1t
loving and trustful. She doesn't wor-
ry so much now.
It is time war, with its horrors was
crushed to earth, never to rise again.